SOUTH BEND -- A former Granger chiropractor, convicted of health care fraud totaling more than $1.5 million, was sentenced Friday to 12 1/2 years in prison. In May, a federal court jury found Bruno Choiniere guilty of overcharging Medicare, Medicaid and 20 private insurance companies over a 26-month period for back braces that were medically unnecessary for as many as 1,900 people. His targets were the elderly, infirm and the poor, according to Assistant U.S. attorney Donald Schmid. U.S. District Judge Allen Sharp imposed the sentence plus an order for full restitution. "This is a very significant sentence that I think sends a message to anyone involved in health care fraud," Schmid said after the hearing. With the cost of health care fraud reaching hundreds of billions of dollars each year, Schmid noted that prosecution of health care fraud "is a priority of the Department of Justice." Choiniere was accused of charging insurers $1,300 for back braces he provided that cost about $50. The government contends that from 2003 to 2005 Choiniere provided unneeded back braces to 1,900 patients and then falsified records to submit to health insurance providers. "He targeted the most vulnerable people, the elderly and the indigent," Schmid told the judge in seeking a sentence up to 24 to 30 years. Choiniere, who had offices in South Bend and Niles, would set up clinics and special presentations in a health fair style at senior centers and other locations, according to trial testimony. Defense attorney Martin Kus of LaPorte urged Sharp to impose a sentence that was "appropriate, but no more than necessary." Kus noted two other cases of health care fraud under different circumstances that had sentences in the four- and five-year range. Those cases were not relevant, Schmid argued. Sharp approved enhancements to Choiniere's basic sentence for the amount of loss, more than 250 victims, targeting vulnerable victims and using minors to assist in the scheme. Choiniere promised some youngsters movie tickets in exchange for passing out flyers about some of his gatherings, which also used incentives to induce people to come. The judge turned down enhancements for obstruction of justice and running a scheme involving five people. Choiniere maintained his innocence of the 34 counts of health care fraud and money laundering during the two-week trial in May. His attorney suggested that some of the wrongdoing was a misunderstanding of Medicare rules. Choiniere's convictions resulted in forfeiture of his bank accounts, his Granger home and retirement accounts. A Canadian citizen, he has been in custody since the trial and his wife and two children -- a daughter, 11, and a son, 14 -- had to move back to Canada. Sharp ordered restitution of $1.24 million to Medicare, $215,000 to Indiana Medicaid and $117,000 to about 20 private insurers The judge said he was not ready to rule on Choiniere's request to serve his sentence in Canada. Staff writer Marti Goodlad Heline: mheline@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6327